After a life of dance, I was introduced to yoga in 1991.  It felt so good and I have practiced ever since.  I loved my corporate work in sales and marketing until the birth of my daughter in 2002.  I was shocked to experience that significant achievements in my career became instantly irrelevant and I began to think about how I could be with my daughter and contribute something meaningful to other children and families.  While practicing yoga, in savasana (final relaxation), the thought...yoga for kids...came to me and I felt inspired. 

With the intention of creating a nurturing space where families could connect, bend, breathe and have fun together, I collaborated with strong teachers and completed Ashtanga yoga teacher training under the direction of Larry Schultz at It’s Yoga, San Francisco.  After two years of research, development and teaching yoga to kids in schools, we opened the first yoga studio designed for kids and families in the Presidio of San Francisco in February 2006.   

Since then, It's Yoga, Kids, and its teachers, have been featured in Yoga Journal, Yogi Times, YOGA + Joyful Living and seen on ABC’s View From The Bay television show.  Leading classes, trainings, events and workshops at our studio and around the world, we have personally experienced, researched and seen the benefits of yoga for all ages and abilities, and we look forward to sharing yoga with you!

Namaste,

Michelle Wing, RYT, CIMI

As Founder and Executive Director, Michelle is responsible for the vision and operations of It's Yoga, Kids.  She has dedicated herself to the nurturing development, health and well being of children of all ages and abilities through yoga and infant massage. A classically trained ballet dancer from the age of 7, she trained and taught movement to children for 8 years and danced professionally at Walt Disney World, Florida, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  She graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University, and completed her 13 year corporate career in sales and marketing at Microsoft to create It’s Yoga, Kids. 

Michelle and her husband, Rich, have been married and living in San Francisco for 16 years. They are truly passionate about living in this city by the bay with their children, Kate, 6 years old, and Jack, 3 years old.

Our certified yoga instructors adhere to the California Yoga Teachers Association Code of Professional Ethics, and complete an thorough screening process in order to work with children. They are qualified professionals trained to tune into each participant in their classes and adapt to the needs of the overall group in order to maximize satisfaction. Students are never forced into any position or to participate in yoga.

Madhuri, a dedicated yogini of eleven years, found and fell in love with Yoga on her arrival in San Francisco from London . Trained in the Integral Yoga tradition, from the linage of Master Sivananda, her teaching is both classical and radical. Being strongly drawn to nurturing and the energy of new life, Madhuri chose, soon after beginning teaching, to work with pregnant woman, parents with their new babies and toddlers, and most recently, young children to pre-teens.

Lesley Giovannelli, RYT, IYKC

Lesley, a former competitive volleyball player, discovered the beauty of yoga in 1999 while participating in a local marathon training program.  She was inspired to share the many benefits of yoga in her life upon the birth of her son Noah. Lesley enjoys working with all levels of students creating comfortable learning environments with an abundance of support and care. She received her Yoga Alliance training in Ashtanga Yoga from It’s Yoga under the leadership of Larry and Marie Shultz and Katie Cariffe.  Lesley especially enjoys teaching the benefits of

incorporating yoga as part of an athletic training program to enhance performance of the body and mind. She received her Master’s in Sports Management from USF in 2001.

Practicing yoga for more than 6 years, Donna was inspired by her daughters, ages 5 and 3, to attain her teaching certification through IYK.  Drawing upon her continuing education of herbal medicine and work as a massage technician, she provides a more holistic practice for students.  As a volunteer and educator in children’s garden programs, she believes in the importance of teaching our connection to nature.  Her vision integrates yoga and breath, with art, music and nature guiding children and young adults to a place of awareness and compassion.

Lin believes in the transformative power of yoga!  She’s dedicated herself to the study and teaching of yoga for the past ten years after leaving a career in corporate marketing.  Lin is a graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio’s intensive teacher training program under Rodney Yee and also apprenticed with senior Iyengar teacher, John Schumacher in Washington, DC.  Lin has been teaching prenatal classes for 5 years and feels great joy and privilege to help expectant moms during this very special transition in their lives.  In her classes, Lin emphasizes the coordination of movement and breath as she guides students to gently strengthen, open, refresh and renew.

Yoga found Melylah in 1999 and she has been practicing every since.  The birth of her now two-year-old daughter inspired her to share her passion for yoga, on and off the mat, with other families.  This lead to her certification in Yoga through It’s Yoga SF under the direction of Larry Schultz in 2007 and It's Yoga, Kids.  She loves making yoga fun and accessible for everyone -- removing the ambition and focusing on the intention.

Rebecca Durlin Smith, IYKC

In 2005 Rebecca began sharing the gift of yoga with her 7-year-old sister, Danielle, and became overwhelmed with the desire to share the ancient practice with more children. Receiving her credential to teach children yoga in 2006 through the It's Yoga, Kids Certification Course has made that vision a reality. Rebecca brings her love of life and passion to make the world a better place into her classes.

Emmie Stamell, KYT, CMT

Creating a rhythmic flow that leaves adults and children energized and deeply relaxed, Emmie brings a balanced dynamic of playfulness and focused awareness to her adult and child yoga classes.  She was yoga certified at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in Lenox, MA, in 2003, and has worked as after-school program director and teacher, camp-counselor, nanny, tutor, classroom substitute teacher, and kids’ yoga teacher, For her, teaching Yoga is a way to share the presence, compassion, and ease of well-being.

Kate Truka, RYT, IYKC

Kate is inspired by the sparkle and spontaneity kids bring to movement and mindfulness. She has taught children incorporating movement, breath and body awareness.
While teaching elementary and middle school children in rural Japan, she discovered Yoga and meditation at a small country studio on the Japanese seacoast. Kate received her Yoga certification through the Integral Yoga Institute in 2005, and completed the It's Yoga, Kids Certification Course.

Jennifer Whyte, RYT, IYKC

A former nanny and volunteer at A Home Away from Homelessness, Jennifer took her first yoga class with Ashtanga master Clayton Horton in 1996. Her deeply rooted love for yoga blossomed during her travels through Southeast asia, where she taught English to kids and realized the physical and spiritual benefits of this ancient practice can be attained anywhere she lays her mat! On returning to the US, her practice flourished under the masterful eye of Brian Kest in Santa Monica while she studied Creative Writing at UCLA. In 2007, she returned to Marin County and became a certified Ashtanga Instructor at It's Yoga, San Francisco and It's Yoga, Kids. 

Tammie Winter, RYT, OT

Tammie immediately found a passion for yoga in 2003. She has participated in several yoga courses including a prenatal and postnatal intensive with Jane Austin, Yoga for the Special Child™, and Integrated Movement Therapy. She completed her yoga teacher training at the Samarya Center in Seattle, WA. Tammie has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and works as a pediatric therapist in the Bay Area.